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This week was all about skiing.  $0.90 life tickets finally got us motivated enough to pull out the old ski stuff, plus a little beg, borrow and get a good deal on everything else.  The kids did a lesson at C.O.P. On Monday evening and they were ready for a day on the slopes with dad for Wednesday.  

The Sethers got to try on equipment but we spent the day together at home.  

So excited to have little skiers and a sport the whole family can enjoy again.  

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Lucy: The weather has been so fantastic for February and March and we have loved getting back outside again.  The kids have been riding bikes, playing at the park, in the backyard, and we even had a hotdog/marshmallow roast along with kite flying this weekend.  Lucy phases in and out of bossy and dramatic and the kite flying experience brought out the diva.  Time-out worthy diva-ness.  Which is hard when you're hanging with friends.  But the she pushes herself really hard and fasts all day on Sunday for her cousin Cy (who just got diagnosed with diabetes) and I wonder how these two are the same person...

Max: had a really big week.  Play dates, haircuts, and Kub Kar Rally.  In which he took first place!! He was so proud of his car and even celebrated at grandma and papa's with a toast and a chance to show off his trophy.  When we went to start the haircut (which he always hates) he told me he wasn't 'good looking enough for the hairstyle' I wanted him to try.  It nearly broke my heart.  I showed him a picture and he said, 'that kids is way better looking than me.'  Serious fail in my mind, so I showed him a picture of himself with a similar haircut from last year and he agreed.  And I secretly agreed that I need to compliment that boy more often.  He should never think he's not handsome enough.  

Logan: is learning all about dinosaurs at school this month and has come home with two stories he illustrated and wrote this week.  They're hilarious, but I especially loved the 'about the author' section.  

Seth: always makes it difficult to pick just one picture.  He is so handsome and is learning new things every day.  This week we made muffins together (aka 'Mubbins') and he was so excited about stiring.  And has pretty much loved on muffins ever since.  

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Lucy: the sweet sister.  At least when it comes to the baby.  She loves introducing him to new things...like  random snowfall we had.  He's at a super fun age that makes it really easy to play with him.  

Max: we took a trip to the zoo on our last day of February break.  Seth was still really sick and slept through most of it but we don't get a lot of opportunities like this.  We even explored the Canadian Wilds which we rarely do.  Max is all about the zoo.  And even enjoys a goofy picture. 

Logan: had his 100th day of school this week and celebrated by dressing like he was 100 years old.  Complete with cul-de-sac hair.  

Seth: is slowly coming out of sickness.  Finally.  Again.  But he was groggy enough for me to take this ponytail picture.  

In between

My beautiful snow angels.  My kids are pretty fantastic and as I struggle through this wife and mother thing I need reminders like these photos to reset my priorities.  

Clean counters are not my priority...although they're important to me, they're not my priority.

  Following rules and schedules are not my priority.  Although SO important to me, not my priority.  

A family that gets along, encourages, and forgives is my priority.  So I need to get there.  With more effort.  

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Lucy: has been sick since last Sunday morning.  She has moaned and complained and decided that Valentines is the worst day to get sick...and the week off of school is the worst time to get sick...and a holiday in Edmonton is the worst time to get sick.  Because her symptoms are so nondescript it's almost hard to believe her.  Laying on the couch, sleeping in and reading aren't really that unusual for this girl...except that when we were at the hotel pool she spent most of her time in the hot tub...which tells me it's for reals.

Max: would love to spend his week off school playing video games...and I would almost love to let him, if it didn't have magical mood altering powers...in all of my boys.  (All of them).

Logan: celebrated the big 6 this week.  With a trip to Edmonton - lots of swimming, Ketchup t-shirts from Janeen and Coleton, and Ninja turtle stuff.  He chanted to us at dinner: 'all hail me cuz I'm six!  All hail me cuz I'm six!"  and we did...for one day.

Seth: did pretty well in a hotel although he didn't like being confined to the room.  He enjoyed swimming and playing, but got sick on day two and things kind of went downhill from there.  Poor guy.  Sick...again.

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Lucy: went on a field trip this week to Fort Calgary.  And she got the added bonus of having her dad with her.  She loves field trips.  There have been many complaints about the lack of grade 5 field trips in comparison to grade 3 and kindergarten field trips.  Sad reality, big girl.  Field trips are becoming a thing of the past as you get older.  But I knew this one would be right up her alley, as she loves all things historic.

Max: and I are at odds...again.  I feel like it happens a lot.  We ebb and flow.  But this one is a doozy.
I can't stand his bad attitude, and he can't stand...me.  Nagging, speaking, asking, reminding...all of it.  Lucy and I were in the same boat when she was 9.  It was a hard year.  How do I get through this?

Logan: is my spunk-ster.  I'm happy to report that the hulk-outs are dying off.  He's getting a lot better at controlling himself.  Not alway...but I've noticed marked improvement.  I got the boys a slingshot for valentines day (to only be used under the direct supervision of dad).  Well, dad fired a soother at logan and didn't expect it to work so hard.  Hence the welt.  Apparently dad can only use under direct supervision from mom!  Fortunately, Logan was angry, upset, and then forgiving and even laughed.  He made the transition between those feelings much quicker than he would have previously.

Seth: is proving to be difficult.  In that I can't pick just one picture a week of him.  he's learning so many new things so often that the changes are lightening fast.  He figured out dad's headphones this week and loves to dance around wearing them.  And where it has been painfully difficult to teach him reverence, this week, he seems to have mastered it.  In the most adorable way ever.

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Lucy: enjoyed our special afternoon of bowling this week.  She's mostly uncoordinated when it comes to things like this, but bowling seems to be her thing.  

Max & Logan: These two can't decide how they feel about each other.  Most of the time I think it's love.  But they often have moments of pure angst.  They will fight the entire time they are in the shower, but then the fight will switch into giggles.  And if there is nudity and a towel involved...it's usually loads of fun.  

Seth: is never more than a few inches away from dad whenever he is home.  No matter what is happening.  In this case it's a stinky diaper and slicing bananas.